Events & Entertainment, Poole | Posted on September 18th, 2026 | return to news

Conversations with Sir Derek Jacobi to illuminate Lighthouse Poole

The acting legend puts his 60-year stage and screen career under the microscope for a night of wit, anecdotes and insight.

Sir Derek Jacobi in Conversation with Richard Clifford, takes place at Lighthouse Poole on Wednesday 28 October. The much-loved actor will leave the make-up and costumes behind to share stories and highlights from across his storied career with his parter, the actor and director Richard Clifford.

An unquestionable icon of stage and screen, Sir Derek is known for his work at the Royal National Theatre; roles in Gladiator, The King’s Speech and many more, resulting in a host of BAFTA, Olivier, Emmy, Screen Guild and Tony awards.

Not a bad effort for a boy who grew up in Essex, the son of a corner shop owner and a secretary. From Leytonstone and the Leyton Players to Hamlet at the Edinburgh Fringe and a scholarship to Cambridge. Jacobi emerged as an enormous talent with Shakespeare running through his blood. Sir Derek has starred in almost every Shakespearian play, including legendary turns in Hamlet and Othello.

Over the course of six decades he has created so many big screen favourite roles, including turns in; The Day of the Jackal, Nanny McPhee, Gosford Park. With plenty of key appearances on the small screen with I, Claudius, Last Tango in Halifax, Vicious, Cadfael and The Crown, or his audio book work, which includes The Night Garden for the BBC children’s series, another huge hit. 

Richard Clifford is an actor and director and has appeared in films such as Much Ado About Nothing, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Frankenstein and Murder on the Orient Express (all directed by Kenneth Branagh), My Week with Marilyn and Justice League, as well as TV such as The Crown and It’s A Sin. His theatre credits include Amadeus at Chichester and Henry V in the West End. He has directed productions at Washington’s Folger Shakespeare Theatre for over 20 years.

With Richard in the driving seat for the evening, there will be incredible insight into acting, performing, directing, the joy of Shakespeare… and so much more, as he also Derek’s partner!